Heliamphora (Sun pitchers)

The genus Heliamphora contains the oldest and most simple carnivorous plants. These Sun pitchers plants are found in Venezuela and Brazil in South America where they grow in areas with Table Mountains. The carnivorous plant species such as Heliamphora heterodoxa, Heliamphora ionasi, Heliamphora tatei, Heliamphora minor and Heliamphora nutans occur only in these mountains. The larger species of this carnivorous plant are Heliamphora ionasii and Heliamphora tatei var. tatei and these exotic pitchers grow to be up to 50 centimetres in height. Heliamphora tatei produces stems that can grow up to 1 metre high. Various species of the Heliamphora are not often cultivated and it takes some practice to keep these plants healthy and living.